CX

British cyclocross rider Helen Wyman has always been a fan favourite, and it seems like her racing is getting better than ever. Winning her fourth Koppenbergcross this season, she was on the podiums of the last two Cyclocross World Cups, and with the weather turning wet, rainy and muddy, just as she likes it, this could be just the beginning of an exciting season.

We talked about what’s made a difference, and how the sport has changed over the last five years – including how Helen’s work on the UCI Cyclocross Commission has contributed to that. It’s not all 100% positive, and we also talked about the changes Helen would like to see in the future, as well as losing her sponsor at a tricky time.

Isla Rowntree is most well-known for starting IslaBikes, a company that transformed children’s bicycles, with all kinds of child-friendly innovations. If you look up reviews, or ask online, they’re always the top recommendation and influencer, and right now there are kids everywhere loving cycling because of Rowntree’s work.

But she’s also helped transform women’s cycling before that, being a key figure in the fight to let women race cyclocross. When Rowntree started, the GB National Championships were only for men, as were the World Cups and World Championships – and she was a major part of the fight to change that.

And she doesn’t stop taking risks and fighting for change. Rowntree is currently working on the Imagine Project, to make children’s bikes sustainable, in a future where resources will become scarcer – through recycling, but also exciting new models of renting rather than buying bikes. It’s a fascinating project – and as she says, a risky one personally and for her company.

We talk about all that, the challenges of effecting change – and you can listen to our conversation, or read the transcript below.

We didn’t get into the questions specifically about children’s bikes, because there are a lot of interviews with Rowntree about that out there. A selection of interviews and articles:

The 2016/17 cyclocross season has been an amazing one for Ellen Noble, the 21-year-old American rider who not only won the U23 Cyclocross World Cup series (and came 6th overall in the elite women’s series), but finished the season coming second in the U23 Cyclocross World Championships, with some incredible descending skills.

She tells me all about how it’s been, what’s helped her get here, and where she wants to go next, with a lot more – including how she felt when the USA cycling media said there was no chance of an American getting onto the podium at the U23 Worlds! Listen to our interview here:

Saturday 11th February

It’s been a fantastic cyclocross season, not least because every major women’s race has been shown live, as well as a ton of minor ones – but all good things must come to an end, and this weekend it’s the last big race of the season, and the final round of the 2016/7 Hansgrohe SuperPrestige – the NoordZeeCross at Middelkerke.

The elite women’s race at the 2017 Cyclocross World Championships was one of the all-time greatest cycling races I’ve ever seen, and I loved the whole weekend. And the best thing? Not only was the 2016/7 season the first time we got to see all the major women’s CX races live (and a whole load of the minor ones too!) – but there are three races left to come from the season – and we can watch them live too! Here’s how to watch the Krawatencross in Lille on 4th February, and SuperPrestige Hoostraten on the 5th.

I still can’t get over the amazing women’s racing from the Bieles 2017 Cyclocross World Championships! The U23 women’s race was incredible enough, and then the Elite Women’s was just completely spectacular – one of the very, very best races I’ve ever seen in any kind of cycling, women’s or men’s. It had everything – riding skills, drama, surprises, and a worthy winner, on a fantastic course. I’m still getting the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, thinking of it!

If you missed any of it, here’s my collection of videos, photos and other media. There’s a lot of it! I’m start with the Elite women, and then move onto the U23s. As always, if you seen anything I’ve missed, tell me in the comments, or on twitter, and I’ll edit them in.

It’s the Cyclocross World Championships! And 2017 has probably the biggest field of possible winners ever – it’s going to be a fantastic race, and such luxury that we can watch it live. I asked Marianne Vos, Sophie de Boer and Christine Majerus some questions about the race, and you can read what they said.

Marianne Vos

Vos is going for her eighth World title! Listen to her talk, or read the transcript below: